Health programs start year right

OREGON – The University of Illinois Extension’s Live Healthy Illinois, a 10-week wellness challenge will be from Jan. 28 through April 5. The cost is $20.

Participants form teams of two to 10 members, and choose a captain and team name. Captains then registers the team to take part in the weight loss category and/or the amount of physical activity that is logged. Each person will use the online tracking system to record and track their progress and the team’s progress. An individual’s weight record is not seen by anyone else.

Sign-up includes a T-shirt, a 1-year subscription to a national lifestyle magazine, a chance to win prizes, and 1-year access to the program’s Web portal with recipes, coupons, and success stories.

The Ogle County Extension is participating. Those interested are asked to call 815-732-2191 for a registration password. Visit www.livehealthycentralillinois.org or web.extension.illinois.edu/bdo for more information.

The Ogle County Extension will offer classes on cooking to help prevent or manage heart disease from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 7 and 14 at the Extension office, 421 W. Pines Road.

Marilyn Csernus, Extension nutrition and wellness educator, will present “Meals for a Healthy Heart.” Participants will learn how to shop for heart-healthy foods and stock a healthy pantry, strategies to include more fruits and vegetables in daily meals, how to select and use healthy oils and fats, and ways to include fish, soy foods, legumes, nuts, and seeds in meals.

Each session will include recipes, cooking demonstrations, food tastings, and information about diet and exercise.

The cost is $15 for the two-session course. Registration is necessary.

Also planned is a hearty soup program at 11 a.m. Feb. 4 at the Oregon office.

The cost is $5. Csernus will be the presenter.

Topics will include the basics of soup preparation, storage, garnishes and croutons, soup bowls, and the nutritional significance of soups. Sampling soups will be part of the program, and recipes will be available to take home.